The Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Phase III Project is one component under the new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Support Programme (Phase 3), which is part of the new European Union's (EU’s) Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), which constitutes the legal basis for programming EU cooperation in developing countries during the period 2021-2027.
The Overall Objective (Impact) of this action is to advance the sustainable integration of the Caribbean region into the world economy. The Specific Objective of this action is the effective implementation and operation of the EPA to enable more trade and investments with the EU.
As Caribbean enterprises in the public and private sectors increase their use of international quality management systems and infrastructure to ensure customer satisfaction and meet the requirements of international markets, there is increased demand for capacity and knowledge in quality infrastructure management principles, practices and systems.
The objective of this consultancy is to equip micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the knowledge and skills necessary to interpret and implement relevant Quality Management System (QMS) standards within their businesses, thereby enhancing operational efficiency, competitiveness, market access, risk management, and long-term sustainability.
The intended outputs and outcomes of the capacity building initiatives include:
Outputs:
i. A Training Manual for QMS implementation and certification
ii. A beginner friendly Guidebook towards QMS certification
iii. High-quality recorded training resources that can be accessed on demand by MSMEs and other stakeholders across the region.
Outcomes:
i. Increased awareness and understanding of QMS principles and certification requirements among MSMEs.
ii. Practical guidance on the implementation of QMS within key economic sectors.
iii. Enhanced national capacity by training representatives of National Standards Bodies (NSBs) and Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to deliver QMS training and support Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The overall objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacity of MSMEs and business support institutions in CARICOM Member States to understand and implement quality management systems in line with internationally recognized standards. The specific objectives are to develop:
2.1 A beginner friendly Guidebook towards QMS certification.
2.2 A Training Manual for QMS implementation and certification.
2.3 Sector-based QMS webinars based on the Draft QMS Training Manual: Virtual webinars (of 6 hours duration each) organised by sector with 45 – 50 total participants per webinar, drawn from all CROSQ Member States.
2.4 An updated beginner-level quality infrastructure training course focused on Quality Auditing.
2.5 A new intermediate-level quality infrastructure training course focused on Quality Auditing, following andragogy principles and suitable for hosting on CROSQ learning management system (LMS).
The consultant will be required to:
3.1 Develop a beginner friendly Guidebook towards QMS certification
3.2 Develop a Training Manual for QMS implementation and certification. The Draft Final Training Manual (to be made available electronically) will be used by participants of the three (3) sector-based webinars. The consultant will use participant feedback from these webinars to finalise the Training Manual. The Training Manual should address at a minimum:
• Introduction to quality management systems and their importance for MSMEs
• Overview of internationally recognized QMS standards (e.g., ISO 9001)
• Key principles of quality management
• Steps involved in implementing a QMS within an organization
• The certification process and requirements
• Common challenges faced by MSMEs and strategies for addressing them
• Benefits of QMS certification for competitiveness, market access, and sustainability
3.3 Develop and Deliver Sector-Specific QMS Webinars
a) The consultant will design and deliver three virtual sector-specific webinars targeting MSMEs and relevant stakeholders across CARICOM Member States. Each webinar will be approximately six (6) hours long, delivered in two or more sessions. The participants will use the Draft Final Training Manual and the webinars will focus on the application of QMS principles suitable for the following sectors:
• Services: e.g. Tourism, government,
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture and Agro-processing
b) Each webinar shall:
• Interpret QMS requirements within the context of the specified sectors
• Provide practical examples and case studies relevant to MSMEs
• Highlight sector-specific quality challenges and best practices
• Include interactive components such as Q&A sessions, discussions, and/or
polls
Participation in these webinars will be open to persons, drawn from MSMEs and stakeholders from all CARICOM Member States.
3.4 Review and Enhance Introductory Course and Develop an Intermediate-Level Quality Auditing Course
3.4.1 Review and Enhance Introductory Course
a) Conduct a thorough review of the Auditing for Quality Effectiveness introductory-level course.
i. Analyze learner feedback, completion rates, assessment results, and engagement metrics from existing course records.
ii. Identify content gaps, pedagogical improvements, technical enhancements, and regional relevance opportunities.
b) Prepare an Enhancement Report detailing findings and recommendations for improvement.
c) Enhance the Auditing for Quality Effectiveness introductory-level course.
3.4.2 Develop an Intermediate-Level Quality Auditing Course
a) Prepare a Course Development Report documenting course design, structure, and content rationale.
b) Design and develop an intermediate-level quality auditing course based on andragogy principles.
i. Address advanced auditing techniques, standards application, organizational context, and regional quality challenges.
ii. Structure the course with clearly defined learning objectives, curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, and learning resources.
c) Ensure the course is technically formatted and ready for LMS hosting, including:
i. Course structure and learning objectives
ii. Instructional materials and learning resources
iii. Assessments and evaluation methods
iv. Technical formatting for LMS hosting
v. Integration guidance and platform specifications
d) Conduct pilot testing with target stakeholders (subject matter experts, quality professionals).
e) Collect and analyze feedback; implement refinements as needed.
f) Submit a Pilot Testing and Final Report (including learner feedback, revisions made, and lessons learned).
All materials will become the property of the Project and should be suitable for use by national institutions such as National Standards Bodies and Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in cascading Quality Infrastructure training to MSMEs and other stakeholders across CARICOM Member States.
The consultant will be responsible for the deliverables presented below.
A. Within 3 weeks after contract commencement, a comprehensive Inception Report and overall Work Plan including detailing the following for each of the four areas of the scope of services:
▪ Proposed methodology
▪ Training approach
▪ High-level content outline for:
▪ Beginner friendly Guidebook
▪ Training Manual
▪ Sector-specific QMS webinars
▪ Intermediate Quality Auditing Course
B. A Draft Beginner Friendly Guidebook towards QMS certification
C. A Final Beginner Friendly Guidebook
D. Training Manual for QMS Implementation and Certification as follows:
a. A First Draft Training Manual for QMS implementation and certification
b. A Draft Final Training Manual to be used for the sector-specific webinars
c. A Final Training Manual for QMS implementation and certificationtogether with the Training Report:
E. Sector-Specific Webinars to include:
a. Draft Webinar Package inclusive of the following for each sector; i.e. (i) Tourism, (ii) Manufacturing and (iii) Agriculture & Agro-Processing:
i. Content outline
ii. Facilitator guide
iii. Participant materials inclusive of the SME implementation guide and activities
iv. Slide deck
v. Proposed assessments
vi. Final Webinar Package incorporating Client-requested revisions to the Draft Webinar Package.
b. Delivery of Webinars using a platform to be provided by the client
c. Training Report details on the webinars conducted, attendees, participant feedback, recommendations and follow-up actions.
F. Quality Auditing Course Report showing the execution of the following activities related to:
a. Enhancements for the “Introductory Level Auditing” course
b. Draft Intermediate level auditing course package inclusive of the following:
i. Full curriculum
ii. Facilitator guide
iii. Participant materials and activities
iv. Slide deck
v. Assessments
vi. Methodology and recommendations for pilot testing
c. Revised Draft Intermediate Course Package incorporating Client-requested revisions
d. Pilot Testing Report: including feedback and recommended revisions
e. Final Intermediate Course Package reflecting enhancements resulting from the pilot testing
The consultancy is for 20 person-days carried out over a period not exceeding seven (7) months, including preparation, delivery of training activities, and submission of the final report.
A detailed implementation schedule will be agreed upon between the consultant and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) at the start of the assignment during the Inception Phase.
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU), CROSQ. The PIU will be responsible for:
• Coordinating with Member States and national institutions
• Supporting participant mobilization (identification and recruitment)
• Providing logistical support for virtual training sessions
• Facilitating communication with relevant stakeholders
The consultant or consulting firm should demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:
a) Advanced degree in management, industrial engineering, business administration, or a related field.
b) Demonstrated expertise in Quality Management Systems, particularly ISO 9001 and related certification processes.
c) Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Quality Infrastructure, encompassing standards development, metrology, conformity assessment, and accreditation.
d) Proven experience supporting MSMEs in the Caribbean in implementing quality management systems.
e) Experience designing and delivering training programmes in QI or related technical fields, including virtual training.
f) Demonstrated expertise in quality auditing, including knowledge of auditing principles, techniques, and standards, with proven experience in developing intermediate or advancedlevel training courses following andragogy principles.
g) Experience conducting evaluations or reviews of training programmes, including analysis of learner feedback, assessment results, and engagement data.
h) Experience developing e-learning content for Learning Management Systems (LMS), including technical formatting and platform integration.
i) Strong facilitation and communication skills.
The proposal must be submitted in English. Proposals and Curriculum Vitae(s) are to be sent electronically to Ms. Janelle Quow at janelle.quow@crosq.org and copied to Ms. Angela Savoury at angela.savoury@crosq.org no later than 4:00 p.m. AST on Tuesday June 30, 2026.
Applicants are required to submit the following:
(a) Technical Proposal (80% weighting): The Technical Proposal should clearly describe:
i. Relevant qualifications, experience, skills, and competences as outlined above.
ii. Understanding of quality infrastructure, andragogy principles, and CARICOM context.
iii. Proposed approach and methodology for executing the four main tasks
iv. Quality assurance approach and learner feedback integration strategy.
v. Project management approach, including risk mitigation and timeline management.
(b) Financial Proposal (20% weighting)
The financial proposal must include the number of person-days required for completion of the assignment and the associated person-day rate in United States dollars (USD) or Euros (EUR). It is understood that the person-day rate covers all the consultant’s costs and profits.
No travel is anticipated as part of this assignment. Therefore, no travel costs should be included.
CROSQ reserves the right to negotiate rates with the consultant whose proposal receives the highest technical score.
Before you proceed to apply, please consider the annexed Eligibility Requirements found at the end of the attached TOR PDF document through pgs. 9-20.
